The Calories in a 1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar

by
D.M. GUTIERREZ Oct. 03, 2017

D.M. Gutierrez

A freelance writer for more than 30 years, D.M. Gutierrez has had nonfiction, fiction and poetry published in women's, mystery, academic, children's, disability and teen print publications and websites including "Psychological Reports" and "Highlights for Children." She has an advanced degree in psychology from the University of California at Davis.

Brown sugar gets its color from its molasses content. Pure molasses is black or very dark brown. The molasses adds moisture to the brown sugar, which can sometimes lead to clumping. Bakers use brown sugar to keep foods like oatmeal cookies soft.

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Brown Sugar

A half-cup of packed brown sugar -- either light or dark -- contains 418 calories. Light brown sugar has a lighter color and taste because it contains less molasses than dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar is often used for baking, while the darker version is used in foods that require stronger flavors, such as baked beans and gingerbread.

Texture and Flavor

Brown sugar gets its distinctive flavor and soft texture from its molasses content. Molasses, a thick, dark syrup extracted from sugar cane, is rich in minerals such as potassium and magnesium. This makes brown sugar more nutritious than white sugar, which contains no molasses.

Nutrients

Brown sugar is higher in vitamins and minerals than white sugar. A 1/2 cup measure of brown sugar contains 91 mg of calcium, while the same amount of white sugar has only 1 mg. Half a cup of white sugar contains only 2 mg of potassium, but brown sugar has 146 mg.

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